The Echoes of Chu Quyen
Category: Apparel
Competitions: Vietnam
Dear Jury of the “Real Leather, Stay Different” fashion design competition The fashion collection “The Echoes of Chu Quyen” was born from the desire to connect traditional culture with contemporary breath, inspired by Chu Quyen communal house – a typical communal house architectural relic of Vietnam in the 17th century. Chu Quyen communal house stands out with its multi-layered overlapping structure, curved roof and sophisticated three-dimensional lim wood carving technique. Here, each rafters, each terracotta tile, each dragon and phoenix carving preserves an “echo” of history, beliefs and folk art. “The Echoes of Chu Quyen” wishes to listen and recreate those echoes through the language of fashion, turning each design into a whisper of the past that resonates to this day. The main material of the collection is original cowhide – symbolizing durability, sturdiness and rustic beauty similar to ancient lim wood. After being manually processed to retain the natural grain and brown tones, cowhide becomes the perfect canvas to express the architectural form and carvings. The color palette from earthy brown, mahogany brown to vermillion brown is very harmonious with the warm tones of the ancient tiled roof, while creating a sense of luxury and strong personality. In terms of shape, the collection exploits the overlapping spirit of the communal house roof through the layering technique: the layered jackets and skirts simulate miniature "steps", creating volume and depth. The roof's corner blades are transformed into soft curves on the jacket flap, jacket collar and curved bib collar. The seams running along the body of the shirt, combined with symmetrical-asymmetrical details, evoke the image of sturdy ironwood columns, while emphasizing the proportions and balance in the design. The Chu Quyen communal house carvings are extracted and processed into embossed motifs, laser-cut on the leather surface. “The Echoes of Chu Quyen” is not just a series of designs; it is the designer’s declaration of responsibility to preserve and spread cultural heritage. Each outfit is a journey back to the past, bringing the wearer into the sacred space of the village temple and arousing pride in their roots. Through that, the collection also affirms that Vietnamese fashion can stand side by side with the international fashion scene by boldly evoking its own identity, while constantly innovating so that heritage “echoes” forever in modern life.
